Heritage Language Bilingualism and Self-identity: the Case of Children of Immigrants in Spain

Abstract

This article contributes to the study of immigrants’ bilingualism and self-identity by focusing on the newer, promising concept of “heritage language bilingualism”. Using data from the Longitudinal Study of the Spanish Second Generation, we show that youths who reported limited proficiency in all their languages were less likely to identify with Spain.

Conversely, youths proficient in Spanish and/or Catalan and in their heritage language – labeled “heritage language bilinguals” – exhibited a more relaxed self-identity: they identified with Spain, but did not consider their identification that important. Finally, neither language proficiency nor heritage language bilingualism affected attitudes toward Spain; those were influenced by the social context of reception.